Six event wins for UF track & field

Special to Gatorsports.com

Published: Saturday, January 12, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, January 13, 2013 at 12:11 a.m.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Gator track & field teams opened up 2013 on a strong note, turning in 17 top-three finishes and six event victories on Saturday at the Crimson Tide Indoor Opener at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala.

“I think that anybody who knows us and knows our program expects us to perform at a high level, and when we're recruiting athletes, we don't recruit them to be successful when they're juniors and seniors,” Florida head coach Mike Holloway said.

Sophomore throwers Jayla Bostic and David Levin threw career bests in the weight throw on Saturday, as Bostic tossed a career-best 18.85m/61-10.25 to finish second in the women's weight throw.

On the men's side, Levin bested his previous career mark by over five feet, throwing 18.44m/60-6 to come in third.”

Florida's sprinting corps had a solid day as the men's 4x400-meter relay, comprised of just sophomores and freshmen, led the way with a time of 3:07.59. Najee Glass, Hugh Graham, Jr., Dedric Dukes and Arman Hall combined for the second-fastest time in the NCAA so far in 2013.

Hall and Glass also turned in stellar performances in the men's 200 meters, finishing in 21.22 and 21.38 to cross in second and fourth overall, respectively.

The women's 4x400-meter relay also turned in a time that ranks second in the NCAA, as Lanie Whittaker, Destinee Gause, Kyra Jefferson and Ebony Eutsey teamed up to finish in 3:38.65, good for second behind Texas.

Sophomore jumper Ciarra Brewer captured the women's long jump title with her leap of 6.09m/19-11.75.

The Gators swept both long jump titles, as sophomore Marquis Dendy claimed the men's title by jumping 7.75m/25-5.25, good for second in the NCAA this year.

Two-time defending SEC champion hurdler Eddie Lovett was impressive, winning both his prelim and final, taking the title in 7.76 for the fourth-fastest time of his career and the third-fastest time in the NCAA this year.

Freshman Moriel Pitt won his section of the men's 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.98, taking both the preliminary round and the final in his first meet as a Gator.

Junior Cory McGee, an experienced 800-meter runner outdoors, took the track on Saturday and ran the 800 indoors for the first time in her collegiate career. McGee was impressive, recovering from a stumble to win the race in 2:09.01 which is good for 11th all-time in Florida history and second in the nation so far this season.

The Gators return to Gainesville to host the Gator Invitational on Thursday.

<p>BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Gator track & field teams opened up 2013 on a strong note, turning in 17 top-three finishes and six event victories on Saturday at the Crimson Tide Indoor Opener at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala.</p><p> “I think that anybody who knows us and knows our program expects us to perform at a high level, and when we're recruiting athletes, we don't recruit them to be successful when they're juniors and seniors,” Florida head coach Mike Holloway said.</p><p> Sophomore throwers Jayla Bostic and David Levin threw career bests in the weight throw on Saturday, as Bostic tossed a career-best 18.85m/61-10.25 to finish second in the women's weight throw. </p><p>On the men's side, Levin bested his previous career mark by over five feet, throwing 18.44m/60-6 to come in third.”</p><p>Florida's sprinting corps had a solid day as the men's 4x400-meter relay, comprised of just sophomores and freshmen, led the way with a time of 3:07.59. Najee Glass, Hugh Graham, Jr., Dedric Dukes and Arman Hall combined for the second-fastest time in the NCAA so far in 2013.</p><p>Hall and Glass also turned in stellar performances in the men's 200 meters, finishing in 21.22 and 21.38 to cross in second and fourth overall, respectively.</p><p>The women's 4x400-meter relay also turned in a time that ranks second in the NCAA, as Lanie Whittaker, Destinee Gause, Kyra Jefferson and Ebony Eutsey teamed up to finish in 3:38.65, good for second behind Texas.</p><p> Sophomore jumper Ciarra Brewer captured the women's long jump title with her leap of 6.09m/19-11.75.</p><p>The Gators swept both long jump titles, as sophomore Marquis Dendy claimed the men's title by jumping 7.75m/25-5.25, good for second in the NCAA this year.</p><p>Two-time defending SEC champion hurdler Eddie Lovett was impressive, winning both his prelim and final, taking the title in 7.76 for the fourth-fastest time of his career and the third-fastest time in the NCAA this year.</p><p>Freshman Moriel Pitt won his section of the men's 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.98, taking both the preliminary round and the final in his first meet as a Gator.</p><p>Junior Cory McGee, an experienced 800-meter runner outdoors, took the track on Saturday and ran the 800 indoors for the first time in her collegiate career. McGee was impressive, recovering from a stumble to win the race in 2:09.01 which is good for 11th all-time in Florida history and second in the nation so far this season.</p><p>The Gators return to Gainesville to host the Gator Invitational on Thursday.</p>